Tag Archives: reno

Im back in action! After Peru I went through a whirlwind of physical and emotional ups and downs, trying to “figure my life out”… I feel like every once in a while I go through these phases where I don’t feel complete in what I’m doing… Usually it’s more like I feel that the important people around me don’t see me as succeeding or living up to my full potential. It’s always different… grad school, settle down, get a “real job”, but it’s never what I’m doing at the moment, and so I stop what I’m doing and momentarily follow someone else’s dream for me. Then I remember how the only thing that made me unhappy… the only thing that made me feel incomplete, was their opinion of my trajectory. I was perfectly loving life when I was just doing me and carving a path all my own. So that’s what I’m going to do damn it!
Although the move back has been rough at times I am so happy I relocated to Ithaca, and will have it as my home base as I continue to see the world… the whole world! Starting with… my home in the desert BURNING MAN! This summer I have been rocking through the festival season, I have been to the local and classic Grassroots Festival, which will always be a favorite music festival for me. Right in my backyard, Grassroots is homegrown with an international flavor. The music comes from everywhere but it’s still small enough to feel like a family, and as an organization they hold social justice close to the heart. A yearly tradition for me that I hope all my readers will look into enjoying some day, they also have satellite Grassroots in Miami and North Carolina! After Grassroots, I hit up the Finger Lakes Cheese Festival with my mama which pretty much explains itself and pretty much explains why it’s amazing. It was very well attended event and a super fun place to take my mom when she came for a visit.

Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad (Grassroots)

Big Mean Sound Machine! (Grassroots)

The last two festivals I hit up were both run by friends in their backyards out on beautiful pieces of land in the country. The first, Seedstock, was a sweet and family friendly bundle of local vibes! Taking place in Cortland, NY it was an awesome display of small town local bands and nationally known artist from the larger neighboring towns, mainly Ithaca. The highlight was hands down the epic silent disco in the forest behind the house. Yes, it’s just what you think… it’s a dance party… that is silent, but I’m not that into mind altering drugs, there may not have been sound but there was music. I wasn’t running around with 100 other people dancing to the voices in our heads.. Haha! Everyone has a pair of headphones with two channels and there are two DJs transmitting their sticky sweet jams to your noggin! The only thing better than seeing 100 people dancing like maniacs in a silent forest… is seeing them all dancing to different beats! It was a blast! The weekend after Seedstock I hit up, for the first of many more times to come, Gourd Fest. A tiny, invite only, free festival put on by a friend of mine who is an amazing DJ. This weekend of debauchery takes place in the mystical Adirondacks and is typically attended by 60-70 people. For those people, and now me, this is a family! It’s like a reunion of best friends and like minded people where they can let go, live free, and make up all their own rules. There is nonstop music, phenomenal food, each year is themed, and all of this is done by the group of friends attending so everyone can enjoy and participate for free. This has been going on in this otherwise quiet slice of the Adirondacks for 21 years, the kindness, openness, and pure uninhibited fun blew my mind!

Seedstock!

Rookies partners of the year, for making zero rookie mistakes! (Gourd Fest)

New Friends Forever (Gourd Fest)

Gourd Fest Sunday Crew!

Gourd Fest was the best prep for the mothership, the festival of all festivals, my home land, where my new year begins every year… Burning Man. That little festival in New York reminded me of the many reasons I adore the Burn. The inclusiveness, the freedom, creativity, genuine kindness, and of course the debauchery! Today I am on my way to spend a week getting my ass good and dusty, a week breaking things down to the raw matter, burning it all to the ground, building myself back up, and starting my new year brand new! I am so ready to remember what I love, and who I am, and and the power we all have to create! I am ready to manifest my destiny, and revel in the possibilities… Burning Man here I come!